Processing apparatus.



H. L GANTT.

PROCESSING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 20, 1909.

1 074 568 Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

O O D O O O Q O 0 0 o o o o o o o 3, w; a f

.Ziwev H. L. GAHTT.

PROCESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1909.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. L. GANTT.

PROCESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1909.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. L. GANTT.

PROCESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION $11.21) JULY 20, 1-909.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

*gHEET 4,

6 SHEET H. L. GANTT.

PROCESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED jun 20, 1909 Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

wZw esqea;

H. L. GANTT. PROCESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1909v Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

6 SHEETBSHEET 6.

HIENEY L. GANTT, OF FILWTUCKET, 31151315 ISLAND.

'fipecification of Lam-m mum.

T 0 all-whom'i may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY 'LuGAm'r, of Pawtucket, in the county of "Providence and State of Bhorle 'lislarod, have invei'iteii n Improvement in Processing Apparatus of which the following description, in con-- nection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the draw-5 ings representing like parts.

The present invention i-elntes'to a processing apparatus in which materizil 1S subj jecterl to a process involving the use of a, liquid, such for example, as a boiling 'orl dyeing, or chemicking process, thenppara-l tus hemp; especially designed for use in onel of the steps of the usual process of bleaching: fabric.

'lhe :n'ipnratus emhodyin the inveniiiml is designed to carry on theprocess eontinu-i ously, that is to say, to operate on n web-or; rope oi' i'ehrie, which is coi'itinuously fed, into n heir or vet in which liquid is circu laierl, and continuously withdrawn therefrom, and to accumulate enough of the fabric between the entering and the leaving points to allow the SMllti to he subjeetm'lto the action of the liquid fore sufficient length of time.

It is one purpose of thcpresent invention; to provide the apparatus with 'means "for causing the liquid to which the *fahric is: subjected to permeate thefahric as li'rBHiZQ'I'S the heir, it being practicable in this Way to redu e the length of time during which it'is l l l necessary to subject the fabric to the 'e'ctien' of the liquid. To nttziinthis'result, the Appnrntns embodying the invention is provirlerl with means for delivering a plurality of powerful stremns of liquid. upon-the'top of the pile as the fabric is piled into the keir, the streams lacing nrrnngeri to travel hack and forth so that they inpinge upon and thoroughly permeate every part Ofthe top layer as it is formed, and even 'penetratc, to a greater or less extent, the layers below. This result can be practically ely tninerl hy using/the some liquid over-and over, the lirp' id being pumped from the hottom of theltcir and forced up to the delivery ducts above. As a practicable expedient, the delivery mechanism for the "fuhric'nmy he em ployeil u conveyer for the delivery ducts for the liquid, the SAld'llll'tltii being, for example, in the form of-pipes which extend along substantially undqiarnllel to the reciproceting'drew rolls by which the'iayers (if "fabric are formed, While the liquid is directly delivered in streams issuing from openings ornozzles in the-under side of'the ")IIJQS.

The hciling process, to whiehthis invention is especially adaptedfis mainly a cleansing process, and the'object is to remove't-heimpurities thoroughly and mpidly,-all parts of thefebric beingequally subjected to the action of the liquid. To facilitate and improvetheoperetion, a series of keirs maybe'employed, ha ing a circulating systern, in which theliqnid, while beingeircuiat-eli in'each keir, elso passes'from one heir to another, the fabric being introduced at.

one end of the series and the fresh liquigi at the other, so that as the fabric becomes cleaner it enters cleanerliquid.

The invention relates further to certain novel features at construction and arrangement of theieedin apparatus. Figure 1 is an eiizvation of an apparatus embodyingthe invention shown partly in section; Fig. 2 is-a-section'ofthe same on a plane at n-ri 'ht angle'to Fig. 1,with parts in elevation ig.'3 is a plan view (if the apparatl1s; Fig. 4 is a view, partlyin'section and partly 1n elevation, of a-serics'of keirs arranged in accordance with the invention;

Fig. '5 is a perspective View, partly in sec- "tion, showing a modification; and Fig. 6 is e view similar to Fig. 5 Showing a further inmiifi'cution. I I

in the apparatusembodying the invention, the heir a is shown asvproviiletl with 'a fabric-containing portion a which termiwires above the'bott'om a d'f the keir a, end is-px-ovidetl with a support for a pile of fabric which is adapted to he'continuously delivered nt'the'top and Withdrawn from 'the hottmn of the suit] fnhricmontaining por- I ti on.

In carrying out a hoilingprocess in concustomary to ather a web of fabric into a rope form, an to pile tiiefabric'thus formed by hand into an empty keiryend the heated liquid put in afterward and circulated. This hand piling is irregular, nndtheliquiH which is introduced after the pilei's'forincil does not uniformly penctrate'the fibric in the pile, hut acts more thoroughly (in-those parts of the fabric which are more loosely associated than on 'those. attaswhichere closely packed together. T e circulation of the liquid naturally follows the parts (if least density, and parts wherethe density is greatest may not be subjected to the flowing action of the liquid at all. In the apparatus embodying the present invention, the piling mechanism is automatically controlled so that the pile is substantially uniform, and of approximately equal density throughout, and the lower end of the rope of fabric is pulled out from the fabriccontaining portion lengthwise and carried upw-artl over the level of the liquid in the heir so as to be withdrawn continuously while the process is being carried on.

In starting the machine, the rope of fabric A is led in between rolls-A and A, thence over a guide roll b to a pair of draw rolls 6, b, which are mounted on a swinging frame consisting of the vertical arms 1") ivotally supported at opposite sides of the lieir. From these draw rolls the rope of fabric A is delivered to the fabric-containin portion a of the heir in a systematic pi e, from the bottom of which the rope is pulled out over guide rolls b and b. It is then carried upward through a pair of squeeze rolls 0 and drawn away from the machine. In order to pile the fabric in substanlially uniform layers, the draw-rolls b 5 are arranged to be swung back and forth over the fabrirrcontaining portion a of the heir, the arms I) being herein shown as connected by means of pitmen If, with disks I), which are shown as provided with a pulley b belted to a pulley on the roll A, which constitutes the driving member. This carries the fabric A back and forth, and, in order that the fabric may also be spread laterally so as to-make a uniform pile, the strand A is arranged to be acted upon by a transversely movable member (I which is shown as an arm pivoted at (Z and arranged to be moved back and forth by means of a rotating screw threaded shaft (1, the threads of which engage with a block (5" having a swivel connection with the arm (I. The said shaft d is shown as provided with a sprocket and chain connection with the shaft which carries the ulley b (see Fig. 2). There are two sets of threads' on the shaft cl cut in opposite directions and crossing each other, and means are provided whereby the swivel block d is shifted from one set of threads to the other, so that the said block is caused to reciprocate through the rotation of the shaft. ;,-'I his construction is not novel, and is not therefore, specifically described herein.

r In'Order to provide for the delivery of the fabric during the movement of the draw rolls?) and b in either direction, the guide roll I) is mounted at the ends of arms b which are pivotally connected at a point concentric with the roll A the said arms I) being connected b means of links 6" with the arms I). As t e arms b swing back and forth to lay in the fab c, the length of the draw rolls b b and the rolls A", A, is not varied, and inasmuch as the speed of the deis drawn from the source of supply and through the transversely movable member (1 at a constant speed, and'notby jerks, as would be the case if it were drawn directly from the source of supplythrough the member l by the draw rolls. This expedient is adopted because it is detrimental to locate any more of the delivery mechanism than is absolutely necessary directly over the heir.

The delivering device, constructed as above described, piles the rope of fabric in layers, each of which, as shown in Fig. 3, has a series of substantially V-sha ed loo formations, so that in pulling out t e fabric from the bottom, the direction of pull is sub stantially lengthwise, so that the loops pull out endwise, with the least liability of tangling.

In order to carry on the process to the best advantage, and with the least expenditure of time, it is necessary that the liquid should thoroughly and evenly permeate the fabric, and it is desirable that such permeation should take place when the material is first acted on by the li uid. If such action is caused to take p ace at the beginning, the length of time during which the material must remain immersed-in the liquid may be diminished, as also the size of the heir, and the fabric can be put through the process at a greater speed. If, therefore, the fabric, as it is piled into the receptacle is subjected to the scouring action of streams of liquid, so directed that the liquid is forced into and through the fabric, the action is much more rapid than is the case if the fabric is merely immersed in the liquid and subjected to such action as may result from ebullition or slow and uneven circulation. In accordance with this invention, the apparatus is provided with means whereby streams of liquid are forcibly directed against eveiy part of the fabric with equal effectthroughout, these streams being caused to permeate the fabric before it sinks beneath the surface of the more inert liquid in the heir. The arrangement is such, however, that circulation is maintained in the hair, so that even after the fabric has been subjected to the preliminary action, the liquid in the kcir is not wholly inert. For this purpose, the lower portion of the heir is shown as provided with a pump 6 which draws the liquid from the bottom of the heir through a suction pipee f, which extends completely across the bottom of the heir below the fabric support, the suction of the wrap producing the downward current while the liquid drawn out by the pump is forced up and delivered into the i top of the heir, from a point above the fabline of fabric under tension between the livery rolls 1/ and b is constant, the fabric lit] imaaw ric piled therein. The lower circulatingpipe' may he provided with a trap or strainer to catch lint, ctc., the said strainer being heroin shown as a chambcr f provided with vrrt'rcal perforated partitions f there being a cock 7' between the straincr and the lccir, that the sitrainexz iian be cleaned without discharging phe contents of tho lucir.

The liquid thus drawn upward is delivered in streams dirot-ti-tl downward upon the top structi n shown. the outlct pipe at from the pump r. is couuc -tcd by nicans of a flexible tube 1: with two horizontal delivery ducts 6" which arc mounted on the arms 1) below the draw I' JllS 7/ and I), and provided along tluunder side with perforations a" whic constitute the nozzles.

in arranging for tho dclivvry of the fa? ric, the rotating! movementof the drawrolls may he so tiuuad with relation to the reciprocating iuovmnents which carry the cloth hat-it and forth, to deliver more cloth during each riwiprocation than would cxt nd from onev wall of the keir to the other. This in rcascs tlu amount of cloth in each layer, and causes the pile to be porous which Huiblt; tlu: circulating liquid to penetrate it ltltil'tf thoroughly than if the cloth were laid in a solid pile.

la is very important that, the streams of liquid should impingc directly on the fab ru', at tho bcginninu, and that the top hiycr should hr rx oued to the direct action of th sin-unis lu-lorc it is lsllllllltfl f tlt'l. In orilcr, tll l 'l fll'l. lo prtwnt tho liquid from at:- cumulating on top of tin: pilc, it. is desiralilc to ali'ord a l'rc rpa c through which a port on of ti... liquid an llow without. hav ing to l tlltil'till tb mass of fabric. For this lilll'plirti, l liavo shown tlul'abritconiuiuinp portion 0" ol tho lflil' as providcd :ll opposittf-itlth' with \w-riical strips it proit'lllllfl inward and udaptcd to lump thy itlt'fi of tho pilc out oi' actual conta t with tho Wtlllf-i.

lo ord r that tlu l wor s rand of tlic p il' l'aliric can o bottom oi lit" p lv withou Mingling, it. 4 tlt'ri ltllllt in Hilltt' as s to provido a sup plonu-nial Phiqun'l for tho pilo allow tlubott m ot' tlu' l ir, and in l igs. l and 2 l it till said ;.uppl-uu-ntal suwport is shown as urmugi-d to bc yicldinQ and may consii-al of a buoyant l'rauio whi h is light cnougzh to iloat to the top ol tluliquid when tbcrc is no lalu'ii: pilot! thcrcin. As shown in Fig. 2, tho said support consists of a frame havmod rczi lilv pull il from T ing :hollow side members g with sloping up per surfaces which afiord supports for the closed ends of the loops of fabric, the rope of fabric bcing pulled lengthwise from under the pile over the sloping surfaces of the side membcrs 1. In order to render the pull uniform, the guide roll 11" pre-- viously described is shown as located directly below the middle of the support, that is, midway betwocn the two members 1 which are connected together by means of transverse frame pieces y to hold them in proper position. B this construction the yielding support wi 1 rest against the bottom of the pile at all times, whether the pile be larg, or small. and will thus tend to prevent any ossibility ol tangling at the hoginnin 0 the opcration.

Whie the yiolding support ahovo dc scribed is a practicable device and may in some cases be utilized to advantage, it forms Import of the prcscnt invention, and is not essential to the practical operation of the apparatus, since the pile of fabric is mainly supported by its own buoyancy and toads to retain its original layer arrangt-mont. It may be dcsirabl liowm'ci, if the yielding support 1 it? diapt'sused with, to utiliV/e a stationary support at. tho bottom of the ltcir, modified forms of the supplemental support being shown in l 'igs. 5 and ti. In Fig. 5, tho sloping surfaces g are shown as projocting from the walls of the fabric containing portion, and sloped downward fifhm op positc sides toward the middle, thus supporting the pile, leaving an open space between the slopin surfaces through which the strand of i tllillti may bo easily drawn. In Fig. ti, the support consists of a series of parallcl fingers g arranged to he in line with tho looped strands of fabric, the said fingers being independently mounted and scparatcd from each other so as to atlord space for the circulating liquid. 'lhcsc lingors may be buoyant. or othvrwisc caused to remain in the position shown in Fig. i, which p0 sition is dctcrniincd by means of alatch or shoulder 1 which holds the lingers slightly lwlow tho 'all (1, ol tho fabric-containiiu. portion.

l'urthcr l aturo ol' tlu' inicntion collsists in providing tho apparatus with an indi ator which will show the operator how largo a pilo oi' l'abric is in the apparatus at any grin-n time, and tho indi ator may be opt-ritual by any yielding clcmont which is ,subjoctcd to th pressure of the pile of i'abric in thc lwir. In the construction --.hown in Fig. l, the yielding support 1 is mnnoctcd. by towns of a cord whi h runs upward ovcr a pulloy h with an indicator l tingor h allaptcd to move up and down in the guid h which is providcd with a calibratt-d scale /i". The same indicator may l also be utilized to operate a tell-tale signal,

and, in the construction shown, Figs. 1 and 2, the said signal is arranged to be operated when the indicator member it is in either of its extreme positions. For this purpose the apparatus is provided with electrical switches z and 10, either of which is adapted to close a circuit from a battery 7: through an audible signal such as a bell is. In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the supplemental support is mainly stationary, a yielding portion can be added for the purpose of operating the signal, Fig. 5 showing a projecting member 9' which projects beyond the surface 37 so as to be subjected to the pressure of the pile, the said member being connected with a si nal controlling device b means of a cord It In Fig. (l, the yiel ing fingers 9 are shown as adapted to act either individually or collectively upon a pivotally supported member g which may be connected with the switch 9 adapted to close an electric circuit through the hell.

A further feature of the invention consists in a multiple apparatus which is ernbodied in a series of keirs which are arranged to receive the same fabric consecu tively, each keir having the piling apparatus above described, together with the means for circulating and distributing the liquid. lVhile each keir is provided with its own circulating apparatus which is adapted to produce a rapid circulation of the liquid contained in the heir, the oven flow from one keir supplies liquid to the next, and so on, there being fresh liquid supplied at one end, and the surplus liquid drawn oil' at the opposite end. The fabric first enters the heir at the end where the surplus liquid is drawn oil, and passes from there through the series, it being obvious, therefore, that as the fabric lit-cranes cleaner, it will enter cleaner liquid, thus making the cleansing process morithorough. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 4, in which the heirs are indicated by the referen e let-- tcrs n, 2, and 3, the fabric A being first piled in the heir 1, and upon its withdrawal therefrom, being; piled into the heir i and then into the heir 3, from uhich it dually carried away. i'hile the liquid in ea h iicir used over int over again, the circu lation produced by the f 3 pump being rapid, a small amount of l :uid is continuously supplied, the heir bring provided with an uVtFliflW to carry mfl' thcliquid and maintain the level thereof the same. As shown in Fig; 4, the fresh liquid is sup plied through a pipe vu to hc lreir 3, and the overflow from heir ll through a pipe m which con i ttltij with the heir 2*, so that the lh; asses from the heir it to the lwir i". rly the heir 2 tom-- municaie through a ppc or with the lceir I l, and the superfluous liquid r l l l I l l l f g l l l i l i 1 l the heir 1, through the overflow pipe m. By this constriuctnm 1t Wlll be seen tnat the fabric A is first acted upon by the liquid which has been used to the greatest extent, this liquid, however, serving to thoroughly loosen the in'ninirities, and, to a considerable extent, remove them. the fabric then being subjected successively to two or more other treatments in liquid which is cleaner, the result being that the fabric finally has received a very thorough cleansing upon leaving the apparatus What I claim is:

1. An apparatu for suniecting fabric to the action of n id r-mnpi' ing a heir; delivery derives located over the heir for laying or piling layers ot" the fabric in said heir in regular formation; spray nozzles located adjacent to said delncry deii cs adapted to eject. liquid and distrib e the same over the surface of the pile ii is formed by the said delivery devices; and means for reciprocating said delivery deand said spray nozzles whereby they travel together across the top surface of the pile of fabric.

2. An apparatus for subjecting fabric to the action of liquid comprising a keirgmeans located over the lteir for piling laycrs'of fabric in said keir in regular formation; spray nozzles also located over the keir; means for causing said spray nozzles to travel above the top surface of the pile of fabric while the fabric is being added there to, and spray on all parts of the top layer; and means for supplying said spray no/izles with liquid under pressure. q

The combination with a heir; of de livery ducts for liquid located over the heir and provided with downwardly directed outlets; draw rolls for the fabric adjacent to said ducts, but out of the path of the liquid issuing from said outlets; means for supplying said duets with liquid under pressure; and re iprocating mechanism r-on'unon to said delivery ducts and said draw rolls, ducts cooperate. in piling the fabric in circular layers and in causing the liquid to impinge on all parts of the top layerv it 'lhc combination with akeir; of deliver ducts located over the heir and provided with downwardly directed outlets; draw rolls for the fabric adjacent to said ducts, but out of the path of the liquid issuing from said outlets; a pump having a suction pipe projecting into the heir; a tlefible ronnocting 'uhe leading from the outlet of the pump to said delivery ducts; and reeiprocating mechanism to cause said ducts and draw rolls to trav l together across the top of the heir.

.7, The combination with n heir: oi deliu'ry dr o' lt liltt' l over the heir and provided with downwardly directed outlets;

draw rolls for .the fabric adjacent to 'said ductsebut out of the'puth of the liquid issu ing from said outlets; a pump having a .mclion pipe projecting into the heir; a lh-xibhconnecting tube leading from the outlet, of the pump tosaid deliurry ducts; Hltfillh for reciprocating said ducts and said draw rolls; and a strainer between the outlet of the pump and said delivery ductn.

'6. The combination with a keir; of a re iprocating deliverv device consisting of draw l' rlln mova le in a direction tranal'eree to their own axes, said draw rolls being loatcd over said hair and adapted to pile fabric therein; ducts parallel to and located at opposite sides of said draw rolls and provided with downwardly directed outlets; said ducte being connected with bllltl delivery device and adapted to reci 'irocate therewith; and means for supplying said ducts with liquid.

7. The combination with a receptacle, of means for piling a rope or strand of fabric in layers therein, and means for withdrawiug the bottom layer; means for retaining the :etrandsof the bottom layer in their original relative positions, in order that they may be withdrawn without tangling; a liquid ejecting device located over the receptacle to deliver streams of liquid downward on .he fabric: and means for causing said ejecting device to travel over the surface of the pile and thereby deliver the streams n all parts thereof.

i. The cr mhination with a Keir having a "ethic-containing portion, provided with a abric support; at its bottom; of transversely movable reciprocating members adapted to fill said fabric-containing portion with a regularly arranged pile of fabric; means for ithdrawing the fabric from the bottom of the pile; and a traveling device for continumdv ejecting liquid on the fabric as it enters the keir, the said travelin" device following the movement of the Said reciprocating members.

9. The combinatioifwith a container for liquid, of meam for continuously adding fabric to the top and simultaueouelv with-- drawing fabric from the bottom of ve fill pile of fabric. suspended in the liquid in said container; and of a traveling device adapted t eject streams of liquid upon the top of the pile of fabric before the fabric at the top becomes submerged in the liquid.

lb. The combination with the heir: of leans for continuously addin fabric to the lbp and simultaneously with rawing fabric from the bottom of a vertical pile of fabric suspended in the liquid contained in the keir; means for circulating the liquid in q E draw rolls and a guide roll adapted to rethc keir; and a traveling device for ejecting the circulating liquid uniformly over all parts of the top of he pile before the fabric l at the top of he pile becomes submerged in I the liquid.

i ll. kcii having. a faln'iwc ntaining 1 oriionprovided at its bottom with a serieS j i parallel lliembels to Hlhgs'llil, the pile of l fabric. combined with ding mechanism l adapted to lay the fab ic in loops. the strands of which extend ent-rally lengthuiae of said parallel members; and a travcling device adapted to eject streams of liquid upon the top of the/pile and to dlstribute the ejected liquid over the entire surface thereof.

12. A keir having a fabric containing pulllUll provided at its bottom with a series of separate members to support the pile of fabric, said members having )aces between them for free circulation of lit uid; means for circulating the liquid by drawing the same from the bottom of the heir below the pile, and returning it to the keir at the top; and a travelin ejecting device to distribute the liquid tlius returned.

a fabric-(mltaining o'rtion provided with a 'ielding member at apted to ress againct the lower layer of fabric witliout sustaining the weight of the pile; of means for systematically piling the fabric in the keir; means for withdrawing the fabric from the bottom of the pile; and an indicating device operating in response to the movement of said yieldin portion due to variations in pressure of t 1e fabric piled thereon.

14. The combination with the keir; of re ciprocatin' draw rolls located over said keir; stationary draw-rolls; a guide roll bearing in an arm pivotally supported on an axis concentric with said stationary draw rolls and connected with the reciprocating draw rolls whereby said guide roll is caused to reciprocate with said draw roll; t5; maintain a constant length of material between the stationary and reciprocating draw rolls.

15. The combination with the heir; of leciprocating draw rolls,- located over :ftlhl heir; stationary draw rolls; a guide roll bearing in an arm pivotally supported on an axis concentric with said stationary draw rolls and conne ted with the recipro atiim draw rolls whereby said guide roll and aid reciprocating draw rolls are caused to recipru ate together and maintain a constant length of material between the stationary and recipro ating draw rolls; a traveling guide eye lo ated between said guideroll and the reciprocating draw rolls; and means for causing said traveling guide eye to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the axes of the draw rolls.

it The combinaticn will reciprocating ciprocatc with said draw rolls; of a guide eye located bet ccn said draw roll: and :aid

The combination with the heir having guide roll, and adapted to reciprocate in a direction transverse to that of the draw rolls and thetension roll.

17. 11: an apparatus for carryin on a continuous process of subjecting fa )ric t0 the iiction of a liquid, a plurality of keirs and piling devices for each keir; means whereby the fabric is continuously withdrawn from the bottom of one keir and continuously delivered to the top of the next keir; means for producing a local circula-- tion of the liquid in each keir by withdrawing liquid from the bottom thereof and de li'verihg it in streams at the top; and means whereby the surplus liquid of one keir is de- 15 livered to the adjacent keir, the general travel of the liquid thus delivered being in the opposite direction to the general travel of the fabric.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 20 name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY L. GANTT.

VVitmsses JAs. J. MALONEY, W. E. COVENEN. 

